A summary report purporting to reflect phases of Japanese so-called "Tanaka Plan" beginning with Conquest of Manchuria, followed by Conquest of China; establishment of bases in South Pacific; and Conquest of the United States. Animated map shows pressure by German forces in offensive against Soviet Union and illustrates German air war against Britain. Scenes of bombing destruction in Britain, including overturned double-decker bus in ruins of buildings. A Nelson Class British battleship viewed from dead ahead. She is followed by the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC. American newspaper headline reads:"Navy Bill Passes House." and "Huge Sum Voted for Two Ocean Navy." A line of U.S. Navy battleships underway, led by the USS Mississippi (BB-41). A field full of U.S. M3 Lee tanks moving in formation, as they are overflown by several Douglas B-18 bombers. Assembled Japanese leaders in a forum. Japanese Naval officers in a planning conference. Closeup shows Admirals Shigeyoshi Inoue and Raizō Tanaka pointing at a chart and conversing as other officers look on. Next, bomb bursts and black smoke rises as the attack on Pearl Harbor is underway. The USS West Virginia, USS Tennessee, and the USS Arizona, burning on Battleship row, during the attack. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek with staff officers walks to a waiting car. Forces allied with China, including American troops marching; British troops marching; and Dutch Colonial troops marching (in Batavia, the Capital of the Dutch East Indies). Japanese troops continuing their conquest of China, firing a field piece, and infantry charging. Newspapers announce Japanese advances into Malay Peninsula and Hong Kong. Others cite fall of Singapore fortress and of Corregidor (6 May, 1942). Animated map shows Japanese occupation encompassing Indo-china, Thailand,and Burma (with loss of the Burma road) all of which compounded China's war efforts.

Passengers jam a train at an open air railway platform in China. Many sit, together with their belongings, on roof of the train. Some persons on the station offer to sell food to occupants of the train. Change of scene shows Soviet Lieutenant General Vasily Chuikov, advisor to Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, having an amicable conversation with a Chinese Major General and his aide.(The latter has injury to his nose.) Next,several Russian troops are seen standing guard in unkempt town square, containing a monument. They appear unsettled by the presence of the cinematographer. Building in background flies Soviet flag and has large picture of Stalin on it. Views are shown of a modern building with drive up ramp to entrance (airport terminal?) and then of a stylish train station displaying Chinese (KMT) and Soviet flags and pictures of Lenin and Stalin. ( Glimpse of a tall white monument with a Soviet T-34 tank on top, followed by another view of the train station.) Next a corner building in the city is seen with Armed Chinese guards protecting sacks of food supplies piled up next to it. A Chinese officer walks past the guards and into the building. View of car and pedestrians on a dusty city street. More views of the Chinese guards and foodstuffs. (Note 1: The images seen here are mixed in place and time, including 1941 and 1945..) (Note 2: Soviet Lieutenant General Vasily Chuikov was recalled from China at end of 1941, and placed in command of the Soviet 62nd Army responsible for the defense of Stalingrad.)

After brief opening scenes of U.S. ships bombed in Pearl Harbor in 1941, the clip recounts Japanese invasion of China following the September 1931 Mukden Incident, and diplomatic League of Nations efforts in 1932 to diffuse the situation. Japanese troops invade Manchuria and China. Japanese troops march with rifles in hands. Board at League of Nations entrance reads 'Societe De Nations'. Guards in uniform stand in front of a gate. Members attend the League of Nations meeting. Japanese delegates leave after resigning. Japanese air raid in China. Japanese troops invade Shanghai. Fleet of Japanese aircraft in flight. They bomb over Chinese targets. Chinese troops moving in mass on the Great Wall of China.

The film 'Sea power in the Pacific' showing Japanese dominance in China and at start of World War 2. Then it chronicles U.S. efforts to build Navy and fight back on sea and in the air. Opening scene shows Japanese Mitsubishi G3M (Type 96) bombers high overhead, and then closeup in formation. View from bomber of bomb bays open with bombs falling and view from ground of explosions and destruction. Overlay on film says: "China---1931." (This is not correct. The G3M bomber was not yet in service.) This film depicts Japanese attacks during second Sino-Japanese War, commencing 1937, Chinese civilians running to escape Jap;anese bombing of Singapore. Buildings destroyed and on fire. Next, Japanese troops, carrying the Rising Sun flag, are seen establishing a beachhead in an Amphibious assault. More scenes of Japanese infantry advancing through Singapore, ad it is being destroyed and burned. Soldiers charging along an alleyway, with pagoda in background. Next, Japanese soldiers are seen attacking Nanking, and committing atrocities during the so-called "Rape of Nanking," in December, 1937. Chinese civilians being summarily shot and dumped into a large open grave. Two Chinese prisoners with hands bound, being executed by rifle fire. Jubilant Japanese troops celebrating their victory. Map shows areas of China occupied during second Sino-Japanese war and the East Indies to the South. View of oil tanks; an open pit tin mine; a native cutting rubber tree bark to collect latex. Flags on map show regions of English, French, and Dutch colonial interest. It also shows Islands to the East, fortified by the Japanese. Cartoon shows Japanese soldier opposed by and American sailor (representing U.S. Sea Power). Next, famous images of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941, are shown, including the USS Arizona burning and sinking. Hawaii, Midway, Wake, and the Philippines Islands, are highlighted on a map and Japanese control of the Pacific is illustrated. Japanese soldiers are seen displaying a captured American flag. U.S. Lieutenant General Jonathan M. Wainwright is seen surrendering the garrison at Corregidor, on May 6, 1942. View of Japanese General Masahara Homma discussing surrender terms with Wainright. Map shows interlocking web of Japanese fortified bases in Pacific and need for seapower to oppose it. View of American shipyard with hundreds of workers, employed to build ships for the war effort, in World War 2. Views welding, metal fabrication, and other shipbuilding activity. A new ship going down the ways and a woman christening a new ship with splash from bottle of champagne. A new "Liberty Ship," the Richard Bassett, going down the ways at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard Inc. Baltimore, Maryland. Closeup view as the stern of another ship enters the water upon launching. View of it from a distance. Shipyard workers knock supports from under what may be a landing craft, as it is launched. Japanese warships underway in the Pacific and firing their naval guns. Explosions on a shoreline from naval bombardment. Japanese infantry wading ashore during an amphibious assault. Map shows where Japanese forces attempt an amphibious assault on Southern New Guinea, thwarted by the U.S. Navy in the battle of the Coral Sea of May, 1942. In June, 1942, a Japanese attempt against Midway Island, was again checked by the U.S. Navy in the Battle of Midway. View of USS Wasp (CV-7) carrier deck filled with airplanes, including Grumman F4F Wildcats. A Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber being cleared for takeoff from the Wasp. Gun camera film showing Japanese airplanes being shot down by pursuing U.S. aircraft.

Series 'Why We Fight' episode "Prelude to War" depicts the battles during World War II. United States soldiers parade on street lead by a band. Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.December 7, 1941. The London Blitz with buildings destroyed and burning. The Eiffel Tower in Paris with Nazi flag flying atop it. German troops marching into Paris, through the Arch of Triumph. Japanese warplanes bombing shanghai, China, in 1937. Chinese residents running for shelter. Glimpse of German "Schwerer Gustav" 80 cmrailway gun firing during German offensive against Soviet Union in 1941. German forces entering Czechoslovakia in 1938. German mounted troops entering France in 1940. Heavy guns firing. German ships en route to Norway 1940. German Ju-52 aircraft flying low over trees. Montage showing rapid succession of war scenes, including heavy guns firing, smoke rising, explosions, an aircraft shot down and crashing straight down, German armor on the move, German Ju-52 aircraft dropping paratroopers into Holland and one flying over Athens, Greece, with Mount Lykabettus in the background. More of the same with Narrator mentioning Belgium, Albania, Yugoslavia, and Russia (where citizens are seen digging anti-tank trenches and fortifications). Cavalry charging across a field. A German tank rolling forward. A German Dornier Do-17 bomber taking off, and bombs falling.

Japanese invasion of China. Chinese soldiers blow the trumpet. Young men march in a field. Young men register in the Army. Millions of young people answer the call to fight for China. Volunteers from south, north, east and west China to form the people's army. Men and women with their children leave to join the forces. Drumming sound. New recruits train and perform a drill to drum beats. Soldiers practice martial arts, rifle handling, and shooting. Others train to care for the sick and wounded. Women soldiers in uniform. They learn to fire a gun. Pilots crowd around an officer. Planes in the background. Men from other countries prepare to fight for China. U.S. Colonel Claire Chennault of the American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers, talks to his men. The Curtiss P-40 Warhawks with the shark face emblems take off. Chinese soldiers march. Japan: Japanese officials in a meeting. Japanese troops penetrate China along the rivers. They rebuild destroyed rail roads using slave labor. A map depicts the Japanese strategy of cutting off Chinese supply lines. Japanese warships blockade the coast with the aim to isolate China. Japanese occupied ports in China. Japanese warships and boats in a Chinese port. Gas plants, gun factories and planes. Indochina map: The narrow gauge railway from sea to Kunming and a truck road to Chungking. The camel trail from Russia across the Gobi Desert. The railroad from Rangoon to Lashio in Burma. (World War II period).